Migratory-derived resources induce elongated food chains through middle-up food web effects ...

• Main Authors: Moccetti, Coralie, Sperlich, Nicola, Saboret, Grégoire, ten Brink, Hanna, Brodersen, Jakob
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: figshare 2024
• Subjects: Ecology; FOS: Biological sciences; Arctic charr; Salvelinus alpinus
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.7411914.v1; https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Migratory-derived_resources_induce_elongated_food_chains_through_middle-up_food_web_effects/7411914/1

Abstract Background Seasonal movements of animals often result in the transfer of large amounts of energy and nutrients across ecosystem boundaries, which may have large consequences on local food webs through various pathways. While this is known for both terrestrial- and aquatic organisms, quantitative estimates on its effects on food web structure and identification of key pathways are scarce, due to the difficulty in obtaining replication on ecosystem level with negative control, i.e. comparable systems without migration. Methods In this study, we estimate the impact of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) migration on riverine ecosystem structure, by comparing multiple streams with strictly resident populations above natural migration barriers with streams below those barriers harboring partially migratory populations. We compared density estimates and size structure between above and below populations. Diet differences were examined through the analysis of stomach contents, changes in trophic position ...